ZACaudio: Class-T Amplifier

ZACaudio Stereo Class-T Digital Audio Amplifier Project

For this audio project I was determined to design my own version of a Class-T digital audio amplifier based of off Tripath Technology's TC2000 and TK2050 chipset. The final goal was to produce a fully functional prototype based off of my design. Unfortunately, my final prototype didn't work due to an error in the PCB design. Although this was frustrating, it also emphasized the importance of prototyping a design. Despite your best efforts, your project might not always work the first try. Keeping this in mind, the thought process that went into this electronics project was still an incredibly valuable experience.

The Thought Process:

The following documentation and information outlines the thought process and design choices that went into this electronics project. This includes circuit design and analysis, component selection and placement, electromagnetic compatibility and proper grounding, printed circuit board (PCB) design and layout, and time management.

Final Report

Parts List:
The following documentation outlines the budget for this project. It includes a cost breakdown of individual components used in my prototype, and also provides a reference for all of the EAGLE (Easily Applicable Graphical Layout Editor) part numbers for the PCB design. If you're interested in designing your own PCB, visit Cadsoftusa as they offer a useful freeware version of their EAGLE software.

EAGLE Part Numbers and Part List

PCB Manufacturing:

After searching for a PCB fabrication house that provided a quality service that was also budget friendly I decided on using Advanced Circuits. They also provide PCB fabrication in a reasonable time period, but be sure to factor in a lead time of about two weeks if you use them for your projects. They also offer student discounts!

This is what my final PCB board turned out like through Advanced Circuits: